DHL Western Province Team head to Strand to take on SWD
DHL Western Province will take on South Western Districts in Vodacom Cup, Round Six action at Helderberg RFC, in Strand, on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 15h30).
Coach John Dobson has made seven changes – one of them positional – to the starting line-up that did duty against the ICBC Pampas XV last weekend, with DHL WP having recorded an excellent 28-17 victory.
Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt Coleman, Godlen Masimla, Graham Knoop (on debut for WP), Gerbrandt Grobler and Chris Heiberg all come into the starting line-up, with Rick Schroeder (on the bench) joining the matchday squad for the first time this season.
Joining scrumhalf Schroeder on the bench are props Tjoppie Ferreira and Dylan Rogers, as well as lock Wilhelm van der Sluys and flyhalf/fullback Tim Swiel – the latter having scored an outstanding individual try against the Pampas last week.
Dobson explained his changes as follows: “It’s great having a few guys back in the mix, like Gerbrandt, Cheslin and Kurt. Wilhelm gets a well-deserved rest after playing two games in five days (after the Varsity Cup Final) and Tim has had a viral infection this week and also a quad-muscle injury, so he will ‘rest’ from the bench.
“On the bench we have two props, Dylan Rogers and Tjoppie Ferreira, as SWD have a strong forward pack and, in particular, a powerful maul so we need as many reinforcements as possible (there).
“The forward battle will be tough and crucial (as always), but I am also looking forward to seeing how Graham Knoop performs at No.7 – he is yet another player that has been identified by Jerome Paarwater through our excellent club set-up here in Western Province.”
SWD have picked up one win this season in their five matches to date, but have run the Pampas and the Sharks close, with Dobson adding: “Like us, they lost to the Sharks after the hooter… but they put 50 points past Boland – a team we drew with earlier in the season.
“We’re in a good space. We’ve had a few niggles this week, which made naming the team a bit tough, but we’re looking forward to this match – and the challenge – against a very good SWD side.
“It was great being back at DHL Newlands last Saturday, but we’re looking forward to playing in Strand this weekend and getting some great support from the people of the Helderberg Rugby Club.”
The DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup team to take on SWD:
15. Cheslin Kolbe
14. Pat Howard
13. Michael van der Spuy
12. Marcel Brache (captain)
11. Devon Williams
10. Kurt Coleman
9. Godlen Masimla
8. Rayn Smid
7. Graham Knoop
6. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
5. Gerbrandt Grobler (vice-captain)
4. Taz Fuzani
3. Chris Heiberg
2. Mike Willemse
1. Ashley Wells
Reserves:
16. Jody Reyneke
17. Dylan Rogers
18. Tjoppie Ferreira
19. Wilhelm van der Sluys
20. Rick Schroeder
21. Berton Klaasen
22. Tim Swiel
Referee: Jason Jaftha
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